Reading
Coverage highlights foodservice and hospitality activity in this key South East town, with reporting focused on the Oracle Riverside, Broad Street, Caversham, and Station Hill areas. Topics include restaurant and bar openings, commuter-led weekday trade, independent operator growth, and regional investment linked to Reading’s tech and business hub status. Insight is geared toward operators monitoring footfall dynamics, high street recovery, and scalable dining formats in affluent commuter markets.
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Jun- 2025 -6 JunePubs and Bars
Spinners secures £4m investment for expansion
Competitive socialising operator Spinners has announced that it has secured an investment of £4m from Gresham House Ventures. The funding from Gresham House Ventures will be used to expand the business’s footprint to new sites around the UK. It will also support improved data capture to better understand customer behaviour…
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May- 2025 -7 MayTrade Associations
UKH rolls out hospitality training programmes across England
UKHospitality, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has announced the launch of hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in 26 areas across England. The new programme trains jobseekers with hospitality skills in a working environment and provides them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview…
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Nov- 2024 -12 NovemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Paul UK unveils new franchise partner
French bakery and café chain Paul UK has announced Zaf Holdings Limited (ZHL) as its newest franchise partner in the UK. ZHL will open 10 stores over the next five years, bringing the Paul brand to key locations in the Southeast of England. The first store is targeted to open…
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Oct- 2024 -8 OctoberRestaurants
D&D London owners complete TGIF acquisition
TGI Fridays has been acquired by D&D London owners Breal Capital and Calveton UK through its acquisition vehicle Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited for an undisclosed sum. The sale, which is based on 51 restaurants, should secure the future of more than 2,000 jobs across those restaurants. Breal Capital…
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Sep- 2024 -27 SeptemberFood and Drink
Chick-fil-A targets UK expansion
Atlanta-based fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A has announced that it is targeting sites in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast as it looks to expand into the UK market. The brand has stated that it is “in the process of selecting operators” for the four cities and hopes to open a total…
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Aug- 2024 -27 AugustBreweries and Distilleries
Brakspear’s FY turnover jumps 9% to £38.6m
JT Davies and Sons Holdings Limited, the parent company of Brakspear, has reported a 9% increase in turnover to £38.6m for the year ending 31 December 2023 against 2022, with an expected reduction in profitability. Underlying EBITDA was reported as £10.9m, slightly lower than the £11.2m reported for 2022 when…
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Jun- 2024 -10 JuneNews
Today’s news in brief – 10/06/24
St Austell Brewery has reported a “record” year where total revenues rose 10% to £229.5m. This comes as the group’s total operating profits for the financial period reached £13.2m, showing a rise of 15% on the previous year. During 2023, St Austell saw inflation reduce from the peak of the…
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10 JunePeople
L’Ortolan head chef James Greatorex joins Grove of Narberth
Pembrokeshire country house hotel Grove of Narberth has announced the appointment of James Greatorex as its new head chef. Greatorex joins executive chef Douglas Balish’s team to take on the key head chef position, and supports Balish in the delivery of the food operation across the hotel. Greatorex’s appointment follows…
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May- 2024 -2 MayRestaurants
Rarebreed Dining appoints Savills on strategic business and real estate review
Rarebreed Dining has appointed international real estate advisor Savills to assist with a strategic review of the business and its property assets as it gears up to consider options. The steak focussed pub company currently operates from The Plough Inn, Cobham (leasehold), The Shurlock Inn, Twyford (freehold) and The Waverley…
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Apr- 2024 -5 AprilCafes and Coffee Shops
Two Magpies’ bakery and cafe opens in Framlingham
Two Magpies is today (5 April) officially opening its latest bakery and cafe in Framlingham. The new bakery, the tenth in the Two Magpies Group, is housed in the old Barclays Bank on Market Square. The new addition to the town will support local commerce and create new jobs in…
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